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Wednesday, September 1, 2021 Below is a list of WHERE to pick up a FREE copy of the print edition of the News-Advertiser. Also available every week at: thechronicleonline. com and at thechiefnews.com CLATSKANIE • CLATSKANIE SAFEWAY • HI SCHOOL PHARMACY IN CLATSKANIE • CLATSKANIE MARKET SCAPPOOSE • ROAD RUNNER GAS & GROCERY • JACKPOT 76 • ENGSTROM CHEVRON • B&B MARKET • FRED MEYER • SMOKE SHOP • NELSON NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET • ACE • GROCERY OUTLET ST. HELENS • CHUBB’S CHEVRON • SHERLOCK’S • YANKTON STORE • ZATTERBURG’S • MARKET FRESH • WALGREENS • BEST WESTERN • MOLLY’S MARKET • WALMART • ACE • DON’S RENTAL DEER ISLAND • DEER ISLAND STORE COLUMBIA CITY • COLUMBIA CITY GROCERY & GAS RAINIER • ALSTON STORE • DOLLAR GENERAL • GROCERY OUTLET
SNAP to see largest, permanent benefit increase
benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards. More information about emergency allotments is available at www.oregon.gov/dhs/ ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/About-SNAP.aspx. Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-6999075.
Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 139 August 25, 2021 JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Snap history Fast Fact From January 2020 to January 2021, the number of people receiving SNAP in Columbia County increased by more than 1,500 people, a 21% increase.
This fall, individuals and families in Columbia County, across Oregon and the nation who depend on food stamp assistance will see what the Biden Administration calls a significant and permanent increase in benefits. It is reportedly the largest single increase in the food stamp system’s history, which now operates as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Impact in Oregon Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Press Secretary Jake Sunderland said The Biden Administration made the announcement Monday, Aug. 16, and his department is still analyzing the changes and what they will mean to SNAP in Oregon. “According to federal government, this change will increase SNAP benefits distributed in Oregon by $337 million,” Sunderland said. “For SNAP households this change on average will be about $36 more in money to buy food per person – or about $1.20 per day.” The change in benefits takes effect Oct. 1. Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most SNAP households are temporarily receiving the maximum benefit amount for their household size, according to Sunderland. “These are called emergency allotments and we have been providing these emergency allotments since March 2020,” he said.
Courtesy image
This change will increase SNAP benefits distributed in Oregon by $337 million. For SNAP households this change on average will be about $36 more in money to buy food per person.
SNAP benefit amounts vary depending on household size, income and other factors. SNAP benefits range from $0 a month (while receiving other services like employment and training services) to the maximum benefit amount for the household size. The need Sunderland said COVID-19 has had an incredible impact on Oregon’s economy and hunger and food insecurity in Oregon, citing an OSU study from December 2020 that estimates the rates of hunger and food insecurity more than doubled in 2020 and that there are about 1 million Oregonians experiencing hunger and food insecurity. From January 2020 to January 2021, the number of people receiving SNAP in Columbia County increased by more than 1,500 people, a 21% increase. The current and new maxi-
mum amounts are in the table attached. Households whose income is 185% of the federal poverty level or less qualify for SNAP benefits. “This means that a family of 4 making $49,000 a year is eligible for SNAP,” Sunderland said. “This is surprising for a lot of people. You can have a parent earning $23 an hour, while the other stays home with their two kids to save on daycare, and still struggle with hunger and food insecurity.” September emergency allotments Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will receive emergency allotments in September. The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September, approximately 402,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $65 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to provide emergency benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Self-Sufficiency Program Director Dan Haun said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.” Emergency allotments will be available on Sept. 11 for current SNAP households. New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments Sept. 30 or Oct. 2. SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental
SNAP provides nutritional assistance benefits to children and families, the elderly, the disabled, unemployed and working families. SNAP helps supplement monthly food budgets of families with low-income to buy the food they need to maintain good health and allow them to direct more of their available income toward essential living expenses. ODHS staff determines the eligibility of applicants based on guidelines established by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary goals of the program are to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to improve nutrition and health in eligible households. Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to local ODHS offices or by calling the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800699-9075. You can look up your local offices number at: www.oregon.gov/dhs/Offices/ Pages/Self-Sufficiency.aspx If you need help, here are important resources: • You can apply online for food, cash and medical help at: ONE.Oregon.gov • Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org • Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org • Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org For help with resources in your community
Local museum move slow, but sure to build on our property, and we can move forward with our plans to build our new museum. Our timeline to finish our building will be determined by the estimated cost, after an architect draws up plans for our building.
Originally published in The Chief Vol. 130 August 27, 2021 JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
There are new details emerging concerning the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum’s efforts to build at the new site across from the Rainier Senior Center. The museum is currently housed in a room at the Rainier City Hall. Local businessman Steve Oliva donated a small parcel of land along West A Street across from the Rainier Senior Center for the new museum building and ground was cleared at the site last fall. Since than museum officials have been going through the required permitting process and raising the needed finances for the move. The Chief has reached out to Rainier Oregon Historical Museum President Kay Heflin and the museum board with the following questions. The Chief: We understand that your group has been challenged with the
The Chief: Why is this new facility needed now and what is your vision that the new building will offer the community?
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole takes a photo in late October 2020 as Rainier Oregon Historical Museum President Kay Heflin and museum vice president Duane Bernard hold a sign marking the site of the new museum headquarters on West A Street.
permitting process and gaining the needed finances for development of the new museum location. Could you bring us up to date about the status of the project? Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency
Community Action Team
Kay Heflin: City Administrator, Scott Jorgenson, has assured us that the planning commission is looking at updating their requirements about not being able to build a metal building where our new museum will be built. Our museum board has been looking at building a Barndominium that is a partial steel building with accents of rock, and designed to fit in with the current design of homes that are near our property on West A St.
Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580
The Chief: We also understand that your group has an opportunity for a matching grant to help cover the cost of the project, could you explain that and tell us what is the current estimated cost of the new building project?
Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org
Heflin: To date, our museum has raised $75,500 for our building fund. Once we
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You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.
raise $100,000, an anonymous donor will match our $100,000. We are asking anyone interested in preserving the history of Rainier and its surrounding communities to donate to the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum building fund, by sending a donation to ROHM, PO Box 762, Rainier, Oregon 97048. Write on your check, or attach a note, that your donation is for the museum building fund. We only have just under $25,000 to raise to receive the $100,000 matching donation, then we can start by hiring an architect and create our building blueprints. We won’t know an estimated cost until we have blue prints drawn up and know the dimensions of the building we are wanting to build. We estimate that it will take $500,00 to $700,000 to complete our museum.
The Chief: What is your timeline to move forward and complete the new building? Heflin: It is hard to estimate a timeline for completing our new building. It will all depend on our fundraising. By the end of the month, Jason Schmidt will take out the last two stumps and finish leveling our property. We are so grateful to Jason who has donated his time to clear the brush and trees from our property. Our museum highly recommends Jason Schmidt, JR Trucking, of Deer Island, for any land work or hauling that you need done. Once we raise $100,000 and receive the $100,000 matching donation, then we can move forward and cut the curb for an entry way and install sidewalks as required
Heflin: We are outgrowing the room that we have at city hall. There is no room for any more display cases. We have four additional display cases in the hallways of city hall. We can’t accept any large items. We have no room to display them. We have been offered a roll top desk that was used by one of the first postmasters in Rainier. A piano from the First Congregational Church, which was Rainier’s first church in Rainier, has been donated to us and is being stored elsewhere. One of Rainier’s first fire trucks will be donated to the museum if we have a heated room to keep it in. The fire truck will be highlighted in our museum. We hope it will attract school children to our museum. We also have logging items that are promised to us if we get a larger museum. Our new museum will offer a meeting room to be used by the public. We will offer more events and learning opportunities in sharing historical research and the history of Rainier and surrounding communities that will interest school classes and the general public. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
News Advertiser Columbia County
Classifieds
Page 2
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Listings are updated daily at thechronicleonline.com
111
502
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502
690
Landscape Maint
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
ATTN! Land Owners WE BUY CEDAR & NOBLE BRANCHES The season is on! We do all of the work! Min. of 10 trees. Call now for an appt. Jaime at 360-751-0120 or 360-430-8510. Free estimates and references.
Bookeeper wanted call 503-369-1381.
munity events. Country Media, Inc. offers highly competitive newsroom wages and a variety of employee benefits, including group health insurance; paid holidays, vacation and sick leave; mileage reimbursement; and others. Send resume and cover letter to jruark@ countrymedia.net.
Be safe, accurate, efficient, self starting, reliable, quick learner, good communicator. Open to women and semi-retired folks. Flexible schedule, positive work environment. Meissner Rd, Deer Island, OR. Wage DOE. Send Letter of Intent and Resume to vivid@stabilize dwoods.com, www. stabilizedwoods. com.
The City of St. Helens is hiring an Administrative Assistant for Parks & Recreation Division. Term-Limited, FullTime. $3,414 (step 1) to $4,147 (step 5). Apply online at www.sthelensore gon.gov.Deadline to Apply: 9/3/21. Equal Opportunity Employer.
150
Misc Services
Paul’s Tree Service Inc. No bush too small, no tree to tall- Call Paul! Specialized in danger trees, take downs, storm clean-up. Time to prune- pruning Lace Leafed Maples & ornamental shrubberies, chipping, senior or veterans discount, free estimates. CCB# 217173 Lic., Bonded & Insured. 503-440-0723 or 503-543-8274
301
Health & Nutrition
Alcoholics Anonymous Info-line, (503) 366-0667 www.pdxaa.org
Columbia River PUD is hiring a Field Engineer I/II Salary: Field Engineer I: $30.97$44.18 per hour DOQ. Field Engineer II: $34.79$49.58 per hour DOQ. Deadline: Open until filled. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia River PUD team, please visit our website at www. crpud.net to view and apply for open positions or call us at (503) 397-1844 to have an application packet mailed to you. IMMEDIATE OPENING: St. Helens Chronicle and Clatskanie Chief, has an opening for a general assignment reporter in Columbia County. Primarily responsible for writing day-to-day news stories for the two weekly newspapers and accompanying websites. Reports to the publisher. The successful applicant will produce content featuring local businesses, government, schools, and com-
LOOKING FOR A GREAT PARTTIME JOB? Become a School Bus Driver for Durham School Services. No Experience necessary. Paid training. Competitive wages. Paid Holidays. Medical, Dental, Vision & 401K Stop by and complete an application or online at: www. Durhamschoolser vices.com/careers Job Code :201181 We’re loctated at: 540 Milton Way, St. Helens, OR. 503-397-9072 Part time Wood Shop Assistant ~ Dream job! 24 days per week. Assist with VIVID stabilized wood product process and resin casting. Must have basic knowledge and love of wood.
Part-time work available Some heavy work. Please call 503-369-1381. The City of St. Helens is hiring a Recreation Program Specialist Term-Limited FullTime, $16.00 per hour. Apply online at www.sthelens oregon.gov. Deadline to Apply: 9/10/21. Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of St. Helens is hiring a Seasonal Recreation Program Specialist Temporary PartTime. $16.00 per hour. Apply online at www.sthelensore gon.gov. Open until filled. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Wanted Autos
The City of St. Helens is hiring an IT SPECIALIST Regular Full-Time. $5,672 (step 1) to $6,946 (step 9). Apply at www. sthelensoregon. gov. Deadline to apply: 9/3/21. Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of St. Helens is hiring Seasonal Recreation Assistants. 16+ years old. Temporary Part-time. 3 positions open. $14.00 per hour. Apply online at www. sthelensoregon. gov. Open until filled. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Ca$h 4 Car$
$Drake’s Towing is now paying TOP Cash$ 4 Junk Cars!!! We buy junk/broken cars, trucks, vans, heavy equip. Top $$ paid to $100-$400. We are LOCAL, serving Columbia County. Same day service.
503-438-6099
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Wanted to Rent
Want to Rent Retired gentleman looking for a one bedroom or studio apartment to rent. On fixed income, non-smoker, no pets. Please leave message at (503) 351-6114.
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Let everyone know with an ad in The Chronicle. Call 503-397-0116.
ASPHALT PAVING Offering Quality Asphalt Paving Services to Columbia County and surrounding areas.
Rooms for Rent
Roommate wanted in a 2 bedroom apartment in Scappoose. $900/month - includes all utilities with cable. Call 503-369-9377. Available immediately.
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Need a job? check the classifieds online at www.thechronicleonline.com to find your perfect job offer
503-543-4440 Phone
503-543-7929 Fax
Kristie Flanagan, Licensed Property Manager 51891 Old Portland Road, Suite “A”, Scappoose OR 97056 (next to the scappoose totem pole)
ALL ABOUT DRYWALL,
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INC.
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
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29 yrs. • hang exp. • tape • texture • smoothwall • patch work • matching texture
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Waterman Garage Doors
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Advertise your business in the Business & Service Directory. Call 503-397-0116 for more information
Summer Sale!
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blinds4youdirect.com (971) 719-7119
Get your ad in the paper and reach out to potential customers. Call 503-397-0116 to place your ad in the newspaper and online.
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RECYCLING SAT.,APRIL20! News Advertiser Columbia County
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Page 3
A Neighborhood Store with a Bit of Everything
Quality Halloween Bark& at Fall Decor Competitive coming in daily! Prices
Molly Matchalk Owner 290 First Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5479 * mmmatchak@gmail.com
215 S 1st Street St. Helens • 503-410-5280 • www.2csvendormall.com
St. Helens School District Surplus Sale
Cedar Chips Garden Mulch Fir & Hemlock The St. Helens School District will conduct a surplus sale on Dust Friday, Bark September 3rd to dispose of district equipment declared as surplus. Items include furniture and equipment and are sold on Trailmix a first come, first serve basis. Items are sold as is on site without representations or warranties. Buyer responsible for moving items Soil Blends prior to the conclusion of the sale. Cash or Cashier Checks only. • Fir Shavings Face masks required per State guidelines.
Friday, September 3rd, 2021 - 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM McBride Elementary School 2774 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR
Property & Casualty Services Your Local Independent Insurance Agency
503-397-0714 Call us for ALL of your insurance needs! Auto • SR-22’s • Home Renters • Business Trucking • Bonds Worker’s Comp
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Yard Debris & Clean Wood Waste Recycling $15 $9 per yd. Clean = No pressure treated, paint or stain Wood Waste = Lumber, branches, small stumps and logs. We do not accept trash, plastic, dirt or sod.
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www.beaverbarkllc.com 54000 West Lane Rd. Open Monday thru &Friday 8am to 4pm Scappoose Mon. thru Fri. 8am-5pm Saturdays 8am-3pm *Logs, stumps, pellets, lumber - no paint or colored stain * please call for clarification C11071
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